The Myth Of Harry Bailey

[ORD_Buckeye]

There is no way that Harry Bailey could have gone to war and saved the life of every man on that transport. Assuming the timeline in the movie is correct, Bailey graduated from high school in 1925 or 1926 (an assumption made upon both the popularity of the Charleston at his high school graduation and the fact that the run on the banks occurred after his college graduation). Since he wasn't career Nvay (he got the fuck out of Bedford Falls to work for his father in law in Buffalo), there's no way, even had his eyesight held up, that he would be accepted into flight school as a 33 or 34 year old in 1942. Harry Bailey spent the war behind a desk in San Diego or Norfolk. Every man on that transport died, and it didn't matter whether George Bailey had been born or not.

 

[AKAK]

Well if an Angel tells me it happened by golly...

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Mighty strong feelings about an Australian psychiatrist/hospital administrator.

 

[charlohiottean]

Just watched it last night. Harry was born 1911 per his tombstone, so 31 y/o in ‘42. That any more plausible?



EDIT: oh yeah, MERRY CHRISTMAS one and all.

 

[BB73]

There is no way that Harry Bailey could have gone to war and saved the life of every man on that transport. Assuming the timeline in the movie is correct, Bailey graduated from high school in 1925 or 1926 (an assumption made upon both the popularity of the Charleston at his high school graduation and the fact that the run on the banks occurred after his college graduation). Since he wasn't career Nvay (he got the fuck out of Bedford Falls to work for his father in law in Buffalo), there's no way, even had his eyesight held up, that he would be accepted into flight school as a 33 or 34 year old in 1942. Harry Bailey spent the war behind a desk in San Diego or Norfolk. Every man on that transport died, and it didn't matter whether George Bailey had been born or not.

I feel bad for your angel, that poor sucker is never getting his wings.

 

[DubCoffman62]

There is no way that Harry Bailey could have gone to war and saved the life of every man on that transport. Assuming the timeline in the movie is correct, Bailey graduated from high school in 1925 or 1926 (an assumption made upon both the popularity of the Charleston at his high school graduation and the fact that the run on the banks occurred after his college graduation). Since he wasn't career Nvay (he got the fuck out of Bedford Falls to work for his father in law in Buffalo), there's no way, even had his eyesight held up, that he would be accepted into flight school as a 33 or 34 year old in 1942. Harry Bailey spent the war behind a desk in San Diego or Norfolk. Every man on that transport died, and it didn't matter whether George Bailey had been born or not.

I have to admit I've never watched It's a Wonderful Life from beginning to end. I have to say though your avatar is from my favorite scene from The Blues Brothers

 

[gmen6981]

There is no way that Harry Bailey could have gone to war and saved the life of every man on that transport. Assuming the timeline in the movie is correct, Bailey graduated from high school in 1925 or 1926 (an assumption made upon both the popularity of the Charleston at his high school graduation and the fact that the run on the banks occurred after his college graduation). Since he wasn't career Nvay (he got the fuck out of Bedford Falls to work for his father in law in Buffalo), there's no way, even had his eyesight held up, that he would be accepted into flight school as a 33 or 34 year old in 1942. Harry Bailey spent the war behind a desk in San Diego or Norfolk. Every man on that transport died, and it didn't matter whether George Bailey had been born or not.

Thanks for the fact checking there Ebeneezer.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Just watched it last night. Harry was born 1911 per his tombstone, so 31 y/o in ‘42. That any more plausible?

Not unless he went in the Navy after college to become a career flyer. Then there's the chance that he would have been a squadron commander by the time the deuce rolled around. Here's what I found on the tubes regarding WW2 pilot selection by the Navy. Harry wouldn't have qualified by age or marital status.

All potential pilots had to complete at least two years of college, to prove their intelligence and provide them with a decent level of education. They had to be between 18 and 26 years old, ensuring young, healthy candidates with a long career potential. They also had to be unmarried.

 

[CMic]

There is no way that Harry Bailey could have gone to war and saved the life of every man on that transport. Assuming the timeline in the movie is correct, Bailey graduated from high school in 1925 or 1926 (an assumption made upon both the popularity of the Charleston at his high school graduation and the fact that the run on the banks occurred after his college graduation). Since he wasn't career Nvay (he got the fuck out of Bedford Falls to work for his father in law in Buffalo), there's no way, even had his eyesight held up, that he would be accepted into flight school as a 33 or 34 year old in 1942. Harry Bailey spent the war behind a desk in San Diego or Norfolk. Every man on that transport died, and it didn't matter whether George Bailey had been born or not.

 

[Mike80]

Just watched it last night. Harry was born 1911 per his tombstone, so 31 y/o in ‘42. That any more plausible?



EDIT: oh yeah, MERRY CHRISTMAS one and all.

*ONLY* If he was a reservist, but the Navy didn't do that back then.

 

[Jaxbuck]

What actually happened was that Harry and Violet had a love child in '45. That kid ended up as an enlisted man in the Navy, assigned to the USS Maddox. On August 4th, 1964 (he was 19) he gave the false report of an attack by the North Vietnamese navy and started the Vietnam war. 58,220 US servicemen died along with untold hundreds of thousands of enemy combatants and civilians. On the plus side, uncounted billions were made for the military/industrial complex and a generation of elites had significant careers to show from it. This also doesn't take into account the multitude of pop culture icons/dirty hippies who entertained people with their protesting or the massive royalties paid to CCR for the use of 'Fortunate Son'.

So, in a very BP kind of way, it very much did matter that George Bailey lived.

 

[jwinslow]

There is no way that Harry Bailey could have gone to war and saved the life of every man on that transport. Assuming the timeline in the movie is correct, Bailey graduated from high school in 1925 or 1926 (an assumption made upon both the popularity of the Charleston at his high school graduation and the fact that the run on the banks occurred after his college graduation). Since he wasn't career Nvay (he got the fuck out of Bedford Falls to work for his father in law in Buffalo), there's no way, even had his eyesight held up, that he would be accepted into flight school as a 33 or 34 year old in 1942. Harry Bailey spent the war behind a desk in San Diego or Norfolk. Every man on that transport died, and it didn't matter whether George Bailey had been born or not.

going by wikipedia here so feel free to correct me someone:

The actual George Bailey named James enlisted in wwii at precisely that age, shortly after the US joined the fight. Pearl Harbor was 33.5 years after James' birth. He enlisted in February. His low weight prevented his initial acceptance.

Soon to be 33 years old, he was over the age limit for Aviation Cadet training—the normal path of commissioning for pilots, navigators and bombardiers—and therefore applied for an Air Corps commission as both a college graduate and a licensed commercial pilot.[116] Stewart received his commission as a second lieutenant on January 1, 1942.[117]

After spending over a year training pilots at Kirtland Army Airfield in Albuquerque, New Mexico,[120] he appealed to his commander and was sent to England as part of the 445th Bombardment Group to pilot a B-24 Liberator, in November 1943, and was based initially at RAF Tibenham before moving to RAF Old Buckenham.[121]

A military officer pinning an award to Stewart's decorated military jacket, among other uniformed soldiers
Colonel Stewart receiving the Croix de Guerre with Palm in 1944
Stewart was promoted to major following a mission to Ludwigshafen, Germany, on January 7, 1944.[122][N 2] He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for actions as deputy commander of the 2d Bombardment Wing,[124] and the French Croix de Guerre with palm and the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters.[125] St

now for a non wiki link
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...gQFnoECAUQAQ&usg=AOvVaw07PqMyg8fVm9vkunRxByAn

Stewart, James Maitland
Stewart, James Maitland
Military Combat/Promoter
Enshrined 2009
1908-1997
Stewart was squadron commander and was required to fly one mission out of every five. While most commanders picked the milk runs, Stewart flew with his men on all the worst missions. High command didn’t like it and he was relegated to a desk job. One day, tired of shuffling papers Stewart said to his assistant, “find us an airplane and let’s shoot some landings.” Barely at 1000 feet, Stewart pulled back on the power and with a wry smile said, “My former group commander has a nap about now. Let’s go wake him up.” After several passes and repeated calls from the control tower, Stewart began buzzing the tower, running everyone out.

Stewart had over 400 flight hours as a civilian pilot when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941, and became an instructor for both the B-17 and B-24.
In November 1943, Stewart was sent to England as Operations Officer for the 703rd Squadron, 445th Bombardment Group of the Eighth Air Force, transferring to the 453rd Bombardment Group in March 1944.
Stewart flew 20 dangerous combat missions as a B-24 command pilot, wing commander or squadron commander, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, The Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm.

It mattered very much in the real world that actual George lived and served long enough to imitate fake George. And I don't think the "your life matters George, don't commit suicide" vision spent much energy delving into what level of post grad education took place.

Many villains have tried to ruin the spirit of Christmas. They usually fail. Good day sir

 

[AKAK]

It would be nearly impossible for me to believe the Navy didn't have a NCO aviation program in the Deuce. My grandfather was in the USAAF program. He washed out into being an Engineer on a 17 (55ish missions, 30+ combat) but he was a licensed pilot, and others he was with ended up combat pilots (or other stuff like C-47s etc.). And I would imagine most of those guys ended up with commissions.

 

[DubCoffman62]

It would be nearly impossible for me to believe the Navy didn't have a NCO aviation program in the Deuce. My grandfather was in the USAAF program. He washed out into being an Engineer on a 17 (55ish missions, 30+ combat) but he was a licensed pilot, and others he was with ended up combat pilots (or other stuff like C-47s etc.). And I would imagine most of those guys ended up with commissions.

I think they call them warrant officers now.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Pottersville ROCKS!

George's confusion, even dismay, is understandable -- it's always a shock when the laws of space and time cease to apply. But if he'd hung out for a while, had a few drinks in the Indian Club, dropped a couple dimes in the dance hall, maybe checked out the action at the burlesque, he would have gotten a whole new take on the situation. Pottersville has its problems -- its bartenders can be undeniably ill-humored, for example -- but compared to the snooze-inducing Bedford Falls, it jumps.

...

And, of course, there are the town's many fine taverns. Alas, we will never know what delights are hidden behind the door of the Indian Club or the Bamboo Room, the Midnight Club or the Blue Moon. But we do have firsthand knowledge of one hostelry -- Nick's, formerly Martini's, the first place into which George and Clarence stumble and from which they are rapidly ejected. And if Nick's is any indication, a night out in Pottersville is not one to forget.

The first thing we see in Nick's is a black piano player, stomping out some righteous honky tonk. A Lauren Bacall-type babe at a crowded table catches the eye. Tough-looking men in fedoras and worldly-wise broads in low-cut dresses are bellied up to the bar. In a word, it's a happening place -- until George and the egregious Clarence come in.